Abstract Objective: the comparison of patients diagnosed in a screening program versus those diagnosed by symptoms has not been studied in depth. The aim of this study is to compare patients diagnosed with CRC in the context of a population-based screening program and those diagnosed only by symptoms. Methods: longitudinal retrospective study in which two cohorts of patients with CRC are compared between 2010 and 2012 at Hospital Clinic de Barcelona depending on the method of diagnosis. Fifty-nine patients diagnosed by the cancer screening programme of Barcelona were compared with 118 patients diagnosed only by symptoms at the emergency room or outpatient clinic. Results: Patients in the screened group presented more frequently tumors in the early stage (stages I-II) compared with the symptom group (57.6% vs. 23.7%, p <0.001). The need for ostomy was higher in the symptom group, (36, 4% vs 10,2%, p = 0.001). Hospital stay was higher in the group diagnosed only by symptoms (10.1 days vs 7.1 days, p <0.001). Conclusions: Patients with CRC diagnosed in the context of screening programmes have an earlier stage, shorter hospital stay and less need for ostomy. In conclusion, the population screening program, beyond the reduction of delayed diagnosed and mortality, directly benefits CRC patients and decreases Hospital costs.

Resumen Objetivo principal: comparar los pacientes intervenidos de CCR (Cáncer colorrectal) en el contexto de un programa de cribado poblacional versus aquellos diagnosticados por presentar síntomas. Metodología: estudio longitudinal retrospectivo. Se estudiaron dos cohortes de pacientes intervenidos de CCR en el Hospital Clínico de Barcelona (2010-2012) procedentes del Programa de detección precoz de CCR de Barcelona (n=59), y de Urgencias o de Consultas Externas por presentar sintomatología (n=118). Resultados principales: Los del grupo cribado presentaron con mayor frecuencia tumores en estadio precoz (estadios I-II) que el grupo síntomas (57,6% vs 23,7%; p<0,001). La necesidad de uso de ostomía, y la estancia hospitalaria fue superior en el grupo síntomas (36,4% vs 10,2%; p=0,001; 10,1 días vs 7,1 días; p<0,001. Conclusión principal: los pacientes con CCR diagnosticados en el contexto de programas de cribado presentan un estadio más precoz, menor estancia hospitalaria y menor necesidad de ostomías. El programa de cribado poblacional presenta beneficios para los pacientes y el sistema sanitario.

Eosinophils are prominent inflammatory cells in asthma and other allergic disorders, as well as in helminthic parasite infections. Recently, eosinophils have been reported to synthesize and store a range of regulatory proteins within their secretory granules (eokines). Eokines comprise a group of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors which are elaborated by eosinophils. These proteins, and the messages which encode them, appear to be identical to those produced by lymphocytes and other tissues. Interestingly, immunoreactivity to many of these eokines has been found to co-localize to the eosinophil´s secretory granules. In this review, we have discussed the repertoire of 18 eokines so far identified in eosinophils, and focused on four of these, namely, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and RANTES. These four eokines co-localize to the crystalloid granules in eosinophils, as shown in studies using subcellular fractionation and immunogold labeling in electron microscopy. During stimulation by physiological triggers, for example, with serum-coated particles, eosinophils release these mediators into the surrounding supernatant. In addition, eokines are likely to be synthesized within eosinophils rather than taken up by endocytosis, as show in detection of mRNA for each of these proteins using in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and in the case of RANTES, in situ RT-PCR. Eokines synthesis and release from eosinophils challenges the commonly held notion that these cells act downstream of key elements in immune system, and indicate that they may instead belong to the afferent arm of immunity.